Foldable desk



Feb. 27, 1934. J FANARJIAN I 1,948,703

FOLDABLE' DESK Filed March 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 44F *(I, A A w R 9c Q i Rx &

ATTORNEY J. FANARJIAN Feb. 27, 1934.

FOLDABLE DESK Filed March 51, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATEN T OFFIC 1,948,703 FOLDABLE DESK John Fanarjian, Union City, N. J., assignor of one-half to Paul M. Hammalian, John M. Hammalian, and Jacob M. Hammalian Application March e1, 1928. Serial No. 266,127

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in foldable desks.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a desk composed of a plurality of parts it which are capable of being folded into a relatively compact unit and are also capable of providing, when extended into open position, a maximum of readily-accessib1e filing compartments for papers and the like.

a foldable desk capable of being folded into a body portion of relatively shallow, oblong conformation having upper and lower compartment sections, one of which is closable by a writing 16 top and, the other of which is completely closable by hinged doors carrying filing-compartment casings movable into accessible position upon extension of the doors and into closed position on the folding of the doors.

20- Another object of my invention is the provision in a desk of the types specified, of an extensible and folding table top to provide a writing surface of extended area and a support for said writing top preferably comprising hinged doors adapted --to close completely the lower desk-section and to provide filing-compartment casings accessible when the doors are in open, extended position and moved automatically into closed position by the closing of the doors, so that a single lock for 80--the doors will lock the compartments against access.

Another object of the invention is to produce a foldable desk having a relatively elongated and shallow body portion which will be so prol$--portioned as to enable the carrying by the doors of filing-compartment casings for papers and the like and at the same time to provide between such casings, when the doors are in extended position, space for the knees and feet of the writer.

Another object is to provide in a foldable desk having a relatively shallow body portion, a writing top slidable within said body portion and also hinged so as to be capable of being folded up- -wardly to close a top pigeon-holed desk-section and to function when dropped or opened and extended to furnish a writing top of relatively large area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for limiting the outward movement of the doors to provide proper supporting positions therefor beneath the writing top and to cause compartments in the casing carried thereby to be readily accessible, and for this 56--purpose I preferably provide a link connection Another object of the invention is to produce between the lower surface of each compartment and a supporting or foot board within the lower desk-section, and this link connection preferably cooperates with a slot in the said foot board.

W ith' these and other objects in view, the invencc tion comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:- V

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a foldable desk embodying my invention, showing the parts in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective View of the desk in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. '4, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the ball and socket latching device shown in Fig. 4 for latching the table top to the upper section of the desk and taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, i my improved desk 1 comprises a body portion of elongated shallow conformation so proportioned as to provide for the housing of the filing-casings containing compartments as hereinafter described and at the same time to provide space M for the knees and feet of the user when the desk parts are moved into extended position. Said body portion is composed of an upper section 2 and a lower section 3.

The upper section 2, as illustrated, is provided with the usual pigeon-hole shelves and partitions ion 2', 2 and is closed by an upwardly folding table top 4 which is hinged at 5 to a sliding portion 6 slidable beneath a dividing partition 7 between the upper and lower sections and, as shown, is slidable in a groove '7 between the dividing partition 7 and a transverse board 8. The table top portion 6 is provided with pins 6 which are slidable in grooves 8' formed in the boards. The lower section 3 is provided with doors 9, 9 each carrying compartment casings 10, 10 one of of Fig. 4, is-

of Fig. 5, a5

which has shelves 11 and drawer 12 while the other is, as shown, provided with shelves 13. The doors 9, 9' are adapted to be swung at right angles to the closed position thereof and when so extended form supports for the writing top 4, these doors 9, 9 being provided with feet 14, 14 having casters arranged to abut against the floor and said doors being guided and limited against movement beyond the rectangular plane hereinabove specified by the connection of the links 15 which are pivoted at one of their ends 16 on the bottom surface of each of the compart' ments and is pivoted at the opposite ends in an arcuate slot 18 formed in a lower horizontal partition 19, which acts as a brace and separates the lower section from the floor to prevent the entrance of dust and dirt into the compartments on the door sections.

As illustrated, the table top in its extended position extends somewhat over the outer edges of the doors and compartment-casings carried thereby and a space 20 for the knees of the writer is provided between the compartments, it being understood that the depth of the body portion and of the compartment-casings are so proportioned in relation to the width of the desk as to provide a suitable knee space 20 between the compartment-casings carried by the doors.

The table top is, as above indicated, of the drop top type and when first slid inwardly may be raised to close the upper section and when closed will have a latch socket 21 which will engage a semi-spherical catch member 22 pressed forwardly by a spring 23 seated in a socket 24 which is lined by a metallic ferrule 25 provided with a hole through which the semi-spherical catch 21 projects. The doors, in the embodiment shown, are provided with outside hinges of heavy construction such as at 26, and handles 27, with a combination 28 adapted to simulate a safe.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A foldable desk embodying a body having in folded position substantially the conformation of a rectangular parallelopiped and composed of an upper section comprising a cabinet member provided with a vertically-swinging hinged closure member movable into vertical position to close the upper compartment and also movable into substantially horizontal position to form a writing top, a lower-compartment section also comprising a cabinet member disposed in substantially the same plane as the said upper-section cabinet member and having a pair of doors hingedly mounted on the edges of said lower-compartment cabinet member to swing horizontally, beneath the open position of said verticallyswinging closure member, into closed positions co ciding with the face of said lower-compartment cabinet member and into open position at right angles thereto, said doors being of a width to cause their free edges to meet at the middle of said cabinet-member, said horizontally-swinging doors having filing casings carried on the interior surfaces thereof, the said filing casings being disposed when the doors are in open position beneath the vertically swinging closure member to support said vertically-swinging closure member when in open position, and a link connecting the edge of the filing cabinet remote from the hinge with a stationary desk portion to guide and support said edge during folding movement thereof.

JOHN FANARJIAN. 

